Rope making machine



Jan. 11, 1938. c. c. SUNDERLAND ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet l E- @104 fl. 'aa flaw jnowtoz c. c. SUNDERLAND 2,105,338

ROPE MAKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5! \m i l ,y ,1

D (1 A Z "Y I 1 25/ i 4 I ,Qmggm Patented Jan. 11, 1938 v UNITED STATES PA-TENT- OFFICE? ROPE MAKING MACHINE Charles C. Snnderland, Trenton, N. J., assignor to- John A. Roeblings Sons Company, Trenton, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application August a, 1927, Serial No. 210,233 46 Claims. ('01. 117-165) especial object being to improve that part of the mechanism in which the wires or strands are laid up on the core and the rope strand or rope closed. I

One of the principalobjects of the invention is to provide an improved means for applying tension to the wires or strands, so that the desired high uniform tension may be assured and properly adjusted and the fabricated rope formed under tension conditions uniform on all the wires or strands and so that this tension shall be such that the fabricated rope or strand will be in a condition similar to that when under its operating tension in service.

The usual method of applying tension to the wires or strands, has been to equip the bobbins with adjustable brakes, so that the tension can be regulated. When these brakes are applied so that the resulting tension on the Wires or strands leaving the bobbins is comparatively light, the workman is able to adjust the tension on all the wires or strands with a fair degree of uniformity, so that the fabricated rope is formed under fair- 1y uniform tension conditions. Under the high tension required in heavy duty ropes, so that the tension in the rope will secure conditions substantially similar to the rope conditions when under .its operating conditions in service, it is very difficult, if not impossible, for'the workman to adjust the brakes on the individual bobbins so as to give the required high tension and still maintain uniformity of tension on the individual wires or strands, this determination by the workman of the amount of tension being made by the feel of the wires to the hand, and a difference in tension on the individual wires or strands under such high tensions being difficult to detect and correct, although suficient to give an unbalanced rope condition such that the ropes in service will not have a uniform tension on the individual wires or strands, with the result that the rope will show ununiform wear and the wires or strands will have ununiform breaking points, so that the full strength of the rope is not secured.

I secure the desired result by using at the head of the rope-closing machine a mandrel or forming core around which the wires or strands are wound in laying them up to form the rope and closing the rope on the mandrel or while the wires or strands are under the mandrel tension, with the result that allstrands being in contact with and wrapped around the same mandrel, the desired uniformity of tension on the wires or strands is secured and this tension is readily adjustable without interfering with uniformity, so

that the rope is fabricated at a tension and under conditions nearly approaching the operating conditions of the rope in service.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for correctly spacing the wires or strands as they are laid up into the rope and at the same time compressing the wires or strands on the center, and for this purpose I preferably use an internal mandrel with helical grooves, this internal mandrel being formed to accurately determine the helical curve of the wires or strands just prior to or in closing so as to assure the required helix in the finishing rope. With this internal mandrel assuring the closing of the rope with the wires or strands formed on a fixed helical curve, and with the tension mandrel around which the wires or strands are wrapped in passing to the internal mandrel, it is entirely practical to assure the wires or strands being given such a helical curve -as to secure the desired helix in the finished rope, and this result will be secured at the instant of closing the rope and in such manner that the retention of this curve in the rope will be assured and the rope will lie straight when released and have no tendency to twist or unwind.

The invention has, in addition to the above general objects, other more specific objects and includes, in addition to the features above referred to, various features of construction and combinations of parts which will be more particularly described hereafter.

For a full understanding of the invention, a detailed description of constructions embodying all the features of the invention in a preferred form will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and the features forming the invention then be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, which show'the invention applied to a rope-machine of common type,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of the bobbin carrying and rope closing portion of the machine;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the closing head similar to that of Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the closing head;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the mandrel and its collar;

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5 of 4;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the closing plate;

Figure 7 is a cross section on line 7 of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a bottom plan of the plates forming the internal mandrel;

Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9 of Fig. 8;

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are detail sections of the closing head, similar to Fig. 2, showing modifications;

Figure 13 is a detail view, similar to Fig. 2,

showing a construction in which the nose on the mandrel is omitted and the internal mandrel formed by holes through the plates;

Figure 14 is a plan of the top plate of the internal mandrel of Fig. 13 with the holes through the plates shown in dotted lines.

' Referring to the drawings, the flyer is shown as of common form, consisting of a central rotating standard i8 carrying the spiders ii in which are mounted the bobbin frames l2 carrying the bobbins i8, this fiyer being shown as carrying at the .topof the standard III the closing head it through which the outer wires or strands a" and the center or core 3 pass to the tension and closing mandrels of the present invention, which are carried by the head l4, and from which the finished rope X passes through the squeezer 15, of common form, held in fixed position by the supports 56, and to the usual draw-off rolls i1 and around guide roll i8 to the wind-up reel. The fiyer and the bobbin frames are shown as driven by the usual planetary gearing, i9 being the driving shaft, which drives the flyer through 1 gears 20, 2 iand the bobbin frames through gears 22, 23, 24, 25. Any other suitable means for giving the flyer and bobbin frames the required movement may be used, the reverse movement of the bobbin frames relatively to the flyer acting to prevent or regulate the torsion on the individual wires or strands, as is usual in such machines.

Referring now to the parts especially embodying the present invention, a. is a hollow mandrel or forming core mounted in the head l4 and through which the rope center or core 1 passes, and b to b" are discs forming an internal mandrel through which the wires or strands; and

center pass from the mandrel a.

The mandrel a is shown as mounted to rotate with the head and this is the arrangement preferred in constructions in which the rope is not to be closed on the mandrel, but this rotating mandrel is not essential to the broader features of the invention. The bottom disc I) of the discs b to b is formed by a collar on the mandrel and shown as integral with the mandrel, and its lower surface is cut away on one or both sides to form shoulders i, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, by which the disc I) is seated in rotatable head so that the mandrel a and disc "1) turn with the head 0 for rotary adjustment in the frame 30 mounted on the top of head l4 and shown as secured thereto by bolts 3|. The rotatable head 0 is shown as provided with marginal'teeth 2 by which the head may be rotated by means of a pinion 3 properly mounted in the frame 30, as shown in Fig. 3, or in any manner desired. The discs are held in adjusted position by cap d screw threaded upon an upward extension of the head c and bearing against the series of discs b to b", so that this cap d locks the whole series of discs and the mandrel in adjusted position. The end of the mandrel 0. preferably extends beyond the disc I) and into the series of discs, as shown, being tapered so as to form an interior guide a. for the wires or strands, coacting with the grooves of the internal mandrel, and the rope is thus controlled by the mandrel practically up to thepoint of closing.

The discs bto b"'are free to rotate independwires or strands in the rope.

amass ently of each other eiicept when locked in position by the cap d, so that these discs, when free, may be brought to proper position and the passages through them form a helical passage such as to secure the desired helical curve of the This adjustment will preferably be by hand rotation of each disc but they may be automatically brought substantially to proper position by drawing the series of strands through them. The disc I)" is formed with an angular stem l, for rotation of this disc to secure the exact helix desired in closing the rope.

Each of the discs b to b" forming the internal mandrel, is provided with a passage 5 for one of the wires or strands of the rope, and a six strand rope is shown in the present case. The passages 5 are of such form that the passages of the seven discs b to I) together form a helical passage for a wire or strand such as desired. These passages in the successive discs b to 22 preferably are formed, as shown, by grooves in the inner edge of the discs about the central bore, and may be formed at variable angles, gradually decreasing from the'angle at which the wires or strands leave the mandrel a and pass through the first disc b, to the smaller angle of the helix at which the wires or strands leave disc b and this theoretically would be the prethe series by larger or smaller counterbores in each disc, the same effect of. variable angles of the wires or strands in the successive discs being thus secured.

An adjusting plate e, movable longitudinally of the mandrel a. and having a replaceable spacing plate I through which are drilled inclined holes for receiving the wires or strands x and holding them in proper position at-the'angle at which the wires or strands are to be wound on the mandrel, is adjustably mounted on adjusting bolts 32 in the frame 30, these bolts being screw threaded in adjusting plate e so that by turning these bolts the adjusting plate e may be raised or lowered on the mandrel as desired, thus changing the lay angle at which the wires or strands a: are wrapped on the mane drel and the number of such wraps. The wires or strands will usually be wrapped on the mandrel at a larger angle than the helix in the finished rope and this larger angle reduced in the internal mandrel.

The mandrel a is preferably tapered downward through the whole or a portion of its length, being shown as tapered throughout its length, although it may be wholly or partly straight or may be reduced in size at its upper end. This tapering of the mandrel with the larger diameter at the top is of value in some constructions in increasing closing tension, it being obvious that the wires or strands passing from the small diameter of the mandrel to the larger diameter would have their tension materially increased as they approach the closing point.

The operation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 to 9 and its adjustment for different conditions, are as follows: The wires or strands a: from the spools i3 are led through the inclined passages 6 in head It to the mandrel a with the rope center 3/ led through the center of themandrel. The wires orstrands a: pass to the mandrel through the holes in the spacing plate I in adjusting plate e, and atthe top of the mandrel pass through the passages in the successive plates 2) to b" forming the internal mandrel, and are laid upon the center 3 in or immediately upon passing from the last or closing plate b" to form the completed rope X. which then passes through the squeezer to the drawing-off rolls l1 and reel. In starting the operation, the adjusting plate e will be adjusted on the mandrel a according to the angle at which the wires or strands .1: are to be wrapped on the mandrel, and the number of such wraps, and a spacing plate f will be inserted in adjusting plate e having its holes properly drilled in accordance with the angle at which the wires or strands are led to the mandrel. The mandrel a, with the first disc I) carried thereby, will be rotated by head 0, so as to position the first disc b, with its passages 5, according to the angle of the wires or strands and to act in conjunction with spacer plate I in properly spacing the wires or strands and guiding them through discs of the series I) to b The discs b to b will be adjusted to their proper relative positions in accordance with the angle of the wires or strands, and after they have been thus adjusted they are locked in place by cap d tightened upon the head 0. The mandrel a and series of discs b to b are thus secured together in fixed relative positions and may be adjusted as a whole by rotating the head 0.

The spools 13 preferably will be provided with the usual drum brakes, or other suitable means be used for securing light and approximately uniform tension upon the wires or strands, the mandrel a then acting to increase the tension to the high tension desired and assure its uniformity. Thetapering of all or a part of the mandrel, so as to increase its size toward the top, aids in securing a high tension as above explained, and in conjunction with the large 'number of wraps possible about the mandrel, it is practical to secure extremely high tension on the wires or strands in closing, and such high tension can be secured by a sufficient number of wraps about the mandrel, with a mandrel of uniform size throughout. The size of the mandrel may be varied and the required tension secured, but for forming the rope so that the strands or wires will not tend to twist or unwind in the finished rope, it is found in practice that a small mandrel is better. The internal mandrel formed by the discs b to b assures the formation of the wires or strands to exactly the helical angle determined upon, and with the wires or strands laid upon the center immediately upon leaving the last disc, the wires or strands may be laid upon the center accurately at the angle desired; so that the wires or strands in the finished rope will'have proper position and uniform tension corresponding to their tension when the rope is under its normal operating tension. The helix of the wires or strands as they leave the internal mandrel preferably will be slightly shorter than the helix in the rope. It is entirely practicable to form and lay the wires or strands to a helical curve that will conform or bear such relation to the helical curve of the wires or strands in the rope, that the desired curve will be retained in the finished rope, and the rope will be straight and have no tendency to twist or unwind. The function of the squeezer I5 is to prevent a rotating tendency as the rope passes to the drawoff rolls H, the squeezer l5 .being stationary, while, the head I l and its external and internal mandrels are in constant rotation. V

While very important results are secured by the combination of the tension mandrel and the closing internal mandrel with a series of discs forming helical guiding and closing passages, especially in securing the desired position and tension of the wires or strands in the rope and in connection with forming the wires or strands so that the rope will lie straight when released, the tension mandrel may be used with other means for closing the rope, and the internal mandrel may be used without the tension mandrel or with other devices for securing the proper tension and lay of the wires or strands as they pass to the internal mandrel. The internal mandrel thus forms a combined guide and closer which in itself is an important feature of the invention, apart from the external or tension mandrel. The tension mandrel may be used with a combined guide and closer, consisting simply of the final or closing disc or plate b the other plates of the internal mandrel being omitted, interchangeable'plates b being used in that different rope lays and provided with strand passages of the proper angle.

The internal mandrel consisting of the series of discs or plates is much preferable to the single plate construction, especially for high tension ropes and in cases in which the rope is to be so formed that the strands or wires will maintain the helix desired in the finished rope and not tend to twist or unwind, as this result requires the guiding of the strands or wires in helical grooves of a considerable length. It is very difficult to form helical passages of the desired length accurately in a single plate or block. With the single plate, however, the uniform tension and most of the other advantages of the invention, may be secured, and it is possible to vary the helix in closing by adjusting the distance of the closing plate from the mandrel, thus varying as desired the helix formed on the mandrel, which preferably is on a larger angle than the helix in the finished rope. The distance of such closing plates from the mandrel may be varied readily by interchangeable hollow spacers in head 0 between the closing plate b and the mandrel, locked in position by cap 01 as in the case of the discs b to b".

Such constructions are shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. In Fig. 10 the spacer consists of a block 33 extending between the plate b forming the wire or collar on the mandrel, and the plate b this block 33 being formed so as to guide the strands or wires in passing from the mandrel nose a and aid in closing the rope. In Fig. 11 the spacer is formed of a simple cylinder 33' extending be tween the plates b b and having no function in forming the rope except to space the plates b b properly. In Fig. 12 the spacer consists of a block 34, similar to block 33 but formed to provide also the plate 17 which in the other constructions is formed by the collar on the mandrel. This construction shown in Fig. 12 is especially desirable for simplicity and cheapness of manufacture, the mandrel being formed without the collar and simply as a tube turned down at the end to form the nose. The block 34 with the plate b is very simple and cheap to manufacture while the integral mandrel and collar of the other constructions is expensive to manufacture.

In all of the constructions above described, the

nose a of the mandrel forms the interior guide for the strands or wires as they pass through the grooves of the internal mandrel, and this is the preferred construction, as a better control of the strands or wires prior to closing is thus secured; while at the same time the construction is simpler and cheaper to manufacture. The mandrel may be formed without the guiding nose, however, and the internal mandrel be formed by helical holes through the plates b 1;", so that the inner and outer walls of these holes guide the strands or wires. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 13, 14, in which the internal mandrel is formed by holes i drilled through the plates b to b", coming to the inner surface of the center bore in the last plate b, in place of the grooves 5 around the center bore in the constructions previously described. In this construction, as well as in the groove construction previously described, the-passages through the discs theoretically would be drilled at varlable angles but in practice it will always or usually be satisfactory to drill the holes through the discs on the same angle and use larger or smaller counterbores in each disc for securing the variable angle effect.

While the invention has been illustrated in a construction embodying all its features in the form now preferred by me, and certain modifications thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construc- 4 tions or arrangement of parts shown, but that many modifications other than those shown or describedmay be made by those skilled in the art, while retaining the invention defined by the claims.

What is-claimed is:

1. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination with adjustable means for varying the angle of the wires or strands on the mandrel, means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, and strand or rope closing means.

2. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wiresor strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, strand or rope closing means, a wire or strand guide rotatable with the mandrel and through which the wires or strands pass from the mandrel and means for adjusting the mandrel and guide by rotation to vary the helix.

3. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a

rotating head carrying a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, strand or rope closing means, a wire or strand guide rotatable with the mandrel and through which the wires or strands pass from the mandrel, and means for adjusting the mandrel and guide by rotation to vary the helix.

4. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, and a rope closing mandrel formed with guides receiving the wires or strands from the tension mandrel, said tension mandrel having a tapering end within the rope closing guides forming an interior guide for the wires or strands.

5. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wiresor with means for drawing 1 strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, and a rope closing mandrel formed with helical converging passages receiving the wires or strands from the tension mandrel.

6. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tensionmandrel about which the wires of strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, a rope closing mandrel formed with helical converging passages receiving the wires or strands from the tension mandrel, and means for adjusting the relative rotary positions of the tension mandrel and passages.

7. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, and a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed plates formed with passages open on their inner side, the passages of the series of plates forming helical converging guides' receiving the wires or from the tension mandrel.

8. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means mandrel, and a tapering end on the mandrel extending within the passages and forming an inner guide forthe wires or strands. '9. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination the wires or strands along the mandrel, and a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed discs formed with passages and mounted to rotate independently of each other for adjustment, the passages of the series of discs forming helical converging guides receiving the wires or strands from the tension mandrel.

10. In a wire strand or rope m king machine, a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed discs formed with passages and mounted to rotate independently of each other, the passages of the series of discs forming helical converging guides receiving the wires or strands from the tension mandrel, means for locking the discs in position after adjustment by rotation, and means for rotating the discs and mandrel together for adjustment.

11. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel about which the wires or strands are wrapped helically, in combination with means for drawing the wires or strands along the mandrel, a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed plates formed with passages, the passages ofthe series of plates forming helical converging guides receiving the wires or strands from the tension mandrel, and adjusting means for rotating the series of plates and mandrel.

12. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of strands superposed plates formed with passages, the possages of the series of plates forming helical converging guides for the wires or strands.

13. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a

, rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed discs formed with passages, said discs being mounted to rotate independently of each other for adjustment, the passages of the series of discs forming helical converging guides for the wires or strands.

14. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed discs formed with passages, said discs being mounted to rotate independently of each other for adjustment, the passages of the series of discs forming helical converging guides for the wires or strands, in combination with means for locking the discs together after rotary adjustment relatively to each other.

15. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed discs formed with passages, said discs being mounted to rotate independently of each other for adjustment, the passages of the series of discs forming helical converging guides for the wires or strands, in combination with means for locking the discs together after rotary adjustment relatively to each other, and means for rotating the series of discs for adjustment.

16. In a wire strand or rope making machine, a rope closing mandrel consisting of a series of superposed plates formed with passages, the passages of the series of plates forming helical converging guides receiving the wires or strands, in combination with adjusting means for rotating the series of plates as a unit.

17. In a wire strand or rope making machine, the combination with mandrel a, of plate e adjustable longitudinally of the mandrel and having wire or strand guides disposed substantially cir cularly and symmetrically about the axis of the mandrel, and removable guide f on plate e'from which the wires or strands pass about the mandrel.

18. In a strand or rope making machine, a series of discs 1), b etc. having a central bore for the rope center and having grooves about the bore forming converging helical guides for the wires or strands, and mandrel a having tapering end a from which the wires or strands pass to the grooves.

19. In a strand or rope making machine, a tension mandrel a about which the wires or strands are wrapped, in combination with rope closing plate b having converging helical guides for the Wires or strands, and spacing means for fixing the distance between the mandrel and closing plate.

20. In a strand or rope making machine, tension mandrel a about which the wires or strands are wrapped, in combination with rope closing plate b having converging helical guides for the Wires or strands, said plate being rotatable relatively to the mandrel for adjustment, and spacing means for fixing the distance between the mandrel and closing plate.

21. In a strand or rope making machine, tension mandrel a about which the wires or strands are wrapped, in combination with rope closing plate wires or strands, said plate being rotatable relatively to the mandrel for adjustment, spacing means for fixing the distance between the mandrel and closing plate, means for locking the b having converging helical guides for the' closing plate and mandrel together after adjustment, and means for rotating the mandrel and plate as a unit for adjustment.

22. Smooth mandrel a formed with collar b having helical passages about the mandrel.

23. Mandrel a. formed with collar b having helical passages about the mandreL'andtapering end it beyond the collar.

24. A machine for fabricating a stranded wire structure of the type composed of wire components laid in helical relation around a longitudinal axis, said machine being characterized by means to shape the unformed stock components into helices including a mandrel on which the wire .components are wound helically, means to feed said stock components to said helix-forming means while permitting relative rotation as between the unformed portion of each component and the forming means, and means to lay said helically formed portions around the axis of the composite structure as they emerge from the forming means.

25. A machine for fabricating stranded wire structure oi the type composed of a plurality of wire components laid in helical relation around a longitudinal axis, said machine comprising a rotatably mounted frame, a plurality of helixforming dies acting successively on the wire components and including a mandrel upon which the wire components are wound helically,wire supply carriers each of which is mounted eccentrically in said frame for rotation on a primary axis for the delivery of wire and on a secondary axis approximately at right angles to said primary axis, mechanism for drawing wire from said carriers concurrently through said dies and thence into converging relation, said mechanism being adapted to take up the said finished structure without rotating the same on its longitudinal axis, and means operating to so controlthe angular position of each of said carriers on its said secondary axis as to cause relative rotation in 0pposite directions between each of said components and said dies, said relative rotation amounting to approximately one turn of each component for each revolution of the die acting thereon.

26. A machine for fabricating stranded wire structure of the type composed of a plurality of wire components laid in helical relation around a longitudinal axis, said machine comprising a rotatably mounted frame, wire supply carriers each of which is mounted eccentrically in said frame, for rotation when delivering wire, on an axis lying in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation of the frame and each of which is also mounted rotatably in the frame on a secondary axis substantially normal to said plane, a plurality of helix-forming dies acting successively on the wire components and including a mandrel upon which the wire components are wound helically, mechanism for drawing wire from said carriers concurrently through said dies and thence into converging relation, said mechanism being adapted to take up the said finished structure without rotating the same on its longitudinal axis, and means for so controlling the angular position of each of said carriers on its secondary axis as to cause such carrier to rotate on said secondary axis relatively to the dies in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of said dies and to an extent approximately one such opposite rotation of the carrier to each full turn of the die.

27. A machine for fabricating stranded wire structure of the type composed of multiple stressdrel to form the components into helices, mechanism for forcing the said components through said bending devices, and mechanism for causing said relative rotation and for imparting a planetary motion to the heiically formed portions emerging from said bending devices for laying the said helically formed portions into the completed structure.

28. In a wire strand or rope making machine, and in combination, a source of supply of a plurality of wires or strands, strand or. rope closing means, a pull-off, a tension mandrel between said source of supply and closing means and tapered toward the source of supply, and means for applying said wires or strands to said mandrel in similar helices disposed substantially symmetrically about a common axis.

29. In a wire strand or rope making machine, andin combination, a source of supply of a plurality of wires or strands, strand or rope closing means, a pull-ofi, a tension mandrel between said source of supply and closing means and means for applying said wires or strands to said mandrel in similar helices disposed substantially symmetrically about a. common axis, said applying means being adjustable for varying the number of wraps of the wires or strands on the mandrel.

30. In a wire strand or rope making machin',

' and in combination, a source of supply of a plurality of wires or strands, strand or rope closing means, a pull-off, a tension mandrel between said source of supply and closing means, means for adjusting the distance between said mandrel and closing means, and means for applying said wires or strands to said mandrel in similar helices disposed substantially symmetrically about a common axis, said applying means being adjustable for varying the number of wraps of the wires or strands on the mandrel.

31. In a wire strand or rope making machine, and in combination, a source of supply of a plurality of wires or strands, strand or rope closing means, a pull-01f, a tension mandrel between said source of supply and closing means, and

means for applying said wires or strands to said mandrel in similar helices disposed substantially symmetrically about a. common axis, including a closing mandrelformed with separate guides for receiving the respective wires or strands from said tension mandrel.

32. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the structure, said head comprising guide members through which the strands or wires pass and are maintained separated, said members being spaced from each other and between which members the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core extending across the space intermediate the said members and about which core the strands or wires are wound, means for advancing the strands or wires,

and means for rotatively adjusting said guide members about their axes, one with relation to the other to any desired extent, including a full turn or more.

33. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the structure, said head comprising guide members through which the strands or wires pass and are maintained separated, said members being spaced from each other and between which members the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core extending acrossthe space intermediate the said members and about which core the strands or wires are wound, means for advancing the strands or wires, and means for rotatively adjusting said guide memmrs about their axes, one with relation to the other.

34. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the structure, said head comprising guide members through which the strands or wires pass, said members being spaced from each other and between which members the individual strands orwires are formed into helices, a core extending across the space intermediate the said members and about which core the strands or wires are wound, and means for advancing the strands or wires.

35. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded structure into the approximate form each will assume in the assembled structure, the said head embodying spaced guide members through which the wires or strands are passed, a forming core extending across the space between said members, means for rotating the head to form the strands into helices about the said core, a rope core separate from the first said core, the strands or wires being laid around said rope core after leaving the first said core, and means for relatively adjusting said members one toward and away from the otherto vary the length of the helices.

36. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head comprising spaced members between which the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core stationary with respect to said members and extending across the space therebetween and about which core the strands or wires are wound as the strands are advanced, and means for rotating said members.

37. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head comprising spaced members between which the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core stationary with respect to said members and extending across the space therebetween and about which core the strands or wires are wound as the strands are advanced, means for rotating .said members, a final or rope core separate from the first said core and about which final core the strands are wound, andmeans for axially and fixedly adjusting-one of said members with relation to the other for varying the number of turns of the strands about the stationary core.

38. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire 2,105,838 structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head comto the other for varying the number of turns of Wiring spaced members the strands about the stationary core, and means for adjusting the members toward and away from each other to vary the length of the lay of the strands about said stationary core.

39. A stranding and closing head for shaping aplurality of wires or strands of a strandedwire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head comprising spaced members between which the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a removably supported core stationary with respect to said members and extending across the space therebetween and about which core the strands or wires are wound as the strands are advanced, and means for rotating said members.

40. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head comprising spaced members between which the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core stationary with respect to said members and extending across the space therebetween and about which core the strands or wires are wound as the strands are advanced, means for rotating said members, and means for rotating at will one of said members with respect to the other to initially wind or lay the individual strands pr wires about the said core between said members. I

41. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head comprising spaced members between which the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core extending across the space between said members and about which core the strands or wires are wound asthe strands advance, means for rotating said members to wind the strands with respect to the said core and for again winding the strands about a rope core beyond the said members, and-means for the members with respect to the other to in itially wind the strands about the core between said'members.

42. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality oi wiresor strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head combetween which the individual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core extending across the space between said members and about which core the strands or wires are wound as the strands advance, mean: for rotating said mem rs to-wind the strands with respect to the said core and for again windin: the strands about a rope core beyond the said members, and means for axially rotating one of the members with respect to the other to initially wind the strands about the core between said axially rotating one of.

' have in the finished strand members, the last said means also operating to control the number of twists around the core between said members.

'43. A stranding and closing head for shaping a plurality of wires or strands of a stranded wire structure into the approximate form each will assume in the finished structure, said head comprising spaced members between which the indi-.

vidual strands or wires are formed into helices, a core extending across the space between said members and about which core the strands.

or wires are wound as the strands advance, means for rotating said members to wind the strands with respect to the said core and for again winding the strands about a rope core beyond the said members, means for axially ro-' tating one of the members with respect to the other to initially wind the strands about the core between said members, the last said means also operating to control the number of twists around the core between said members, and means for adjusting the members towards and away from each other to vary the extent or length of lay of the strand wrapped or wound about the core between said members.

44. In the process of making wire strand orrope characterized by the laying up. of component wires or strands helically about a core by imparting motion 01 translation and planetary revolution to said component wires or strands with reference to a common axis, the method of preiorming the said component wires or strands into substantially the helical form they are to have in the finished strand or rope which comprises applying the said component wires or strands helically about a mandrel having-its axis coincident with the said axis and drawing the said component wires or strands off the said mandrel under tension sufiiicent to preform them into the said helices before laying them up about the core.

45. In the process of making wire strand or rope characterized by the laying "up oi component wires or strands helically about a core by imparting motion of translation and planetary revolution to said component wires or strands with reference to a common axis, the method oi. preforming the said component wires or strands into substantially the helical form theyare -to or rope which comprises applying the said component wires or strands helically about a mandrel having its axis revolution to said'componentwires or strands with reference to a commonaxis, the method of preforming the said component wires or strands into. substantially the helical form they are to have in the finished strand or rope which comprises drawing the sald component wires. or

- strands over a rounded mandrel nose which holds them apart, and then pressing them together to close the strand or rope under tension sufllcient to preform them into the said helices before laying them up about the core.

CHARLES C. SUNDERLAND.

. imparting motion of translation and planetary 

